More misery for new car market 

Sales of new cars in New Zealand continue to be slow, with the numbers for May down almost 25 per cent. 

According to the Motor Industry Association, May saw 10,186 new vehicles registered which is 23.7 per cent lower than May last year. Year-to-date, the market is 13.3 per cent behind where it was last year. 

Registrations of light passenger vehicles (6369) was 33 per cent lower than May 2023 and the numbers are almost 40 per cent lower than May 2022. 

Who’s buying all the cars in New Zealand? 

The split in the light passenger market sees private buyers accounting for a 46.7 per cent share, while businesses claim 45.5 per cent of sales and rentals are still slow at just 5.6 per cent. 

What are the top selling cars in New Zealand? 

Well, they’re not actually cars, more like commercials, utes to be specific. Ford Ranger again led the way with 1,067 sold, then came the RAV4 on 761, followed by Hilux (709) and then the new Mitsubishi Triton (444). 

What is the best selling car brand in New Zealand?

That would be Toyota, again, with a 23 per cent market share in May, followed by Ford on 14.4 per cent and then Mitsubishi on 10.8. YTD, Toyota has sold 11748 vehicles, Ford 7651 and Mitsubishi 6027. 

Electric vehicle sales are still way down

EVs continue on the decline, the Model Y (read our review here) being the best seller with only 44 units sold, besting the Model 3 on 32. Next best was the Ioniq 5 on 24 units, tied with the Volvo EX30. 

Even the enthusiasm for plug in-hybrids is down, the Outlander with just 23 units moved and BYD has registered 19 of its new Sealion 6 SUVs.

Top five selling passenger cars in May 2024

1 TOYOTA RAV4 761

2 MITSUBISHI ASX 328

3 SUZUKI SWIFT 246

4 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER 224

5 KIA SELTOS 201

Top five selling commercials in May 2024

1 FORD RANGER 1067

2 TOYOTA HILUX 709

3 MITSUBISHI TRITON 444

4 TOYOTA HIACE 234

5 FORD TRANSIT 179